COEUR d'ALENE - Count 'em: One, two, three.

That's the number of responsible parties it takes to hold government accountable, according to author, professor and U.S. Constitutional scholar David Gray Adler, and each must play its part - otherwise the system will crack.

Who are they? Who is responsible?

You, the reader; we, the newspaper and, of course, the government itself.

"That's crucial," Adler said of each branch fulfilling its responsibilities.

The benefit is an informed public governed by an upright, efficient body. But to get there takes information and work by all sides, which Adler will discuss at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Coeur d'Alene Public Library in a town hall-style lecture.

"The government owes an obligation to its people to adhere to the Constitution; to obey its limits," said Adler, director of the James A. and Louise McClure Center for Public Policy Research at the University of Idaho. "That's a given in a Constitutional republic such as ours."

It can be difficult not to be cynical about government right now, Adler recognizes, as political fighting has become the national norm. Security fears in the wake of 9/11, three wars, rising deficits,a high and prolonged jobless rate, and a sluggish economy add to that frustration.

But the citizenry owes itself, and its country, to be informed.

This can mean several things, such as knowing the Constitution, approaching political discourse with an unbiased ear, trusting professionally trained news sources and contacting their representatives.

Those can be difficult messages to receive for some people, said Adler, an international lecturer and author of numerous books and articles on the Constitution and the American presidency.

Often, people seek slanted reporting that affirms their already established positions, while newspapers' reputations are sometimes poor in the court of public opinion.

"Of course it's a tall order, but I think this Republic has a long-term goal - certainly it's a long-term goal of mine - for people to be better grounded in civic participation," Adler said.

The lecture, which is touring Idaho, is free to the public and expected to last around two hours. It's being hosted by the Idaho Humanities Council and the Coeur d'Alene Press.

Newspapers, likewise, owe it to the public to report unbiased news, while holding government officials' feet to the fire. They have to earn a trustworthy reputation and maintain it for the whole system to work. Despite bumps in the road - it's been dubbed "lamestream media" recently - the American press has a pretty good track record, Adler said, better than blogs and television shows that chase ratings by name-calling those who disagree.

"They can trust the American press, which has historically been very good," Adler said. "It's not been perfect, but it's been pretty good."

On the other hand, citizens shouldn't be made to feel unpatriotic or disloyal for questioning or opposing policies, he said, and government officials should host more neutral forums where the public, media and policy makers sit down for one-on-one style questions and answers.

A question-and-answer session of its own should take place after the Coeur d'Alene lecture, if time allows.

The goal of the whole event is to open rational discourse, regardless of political preference, Adler said, which is something many people want. Similar lectures in southern Idaho have seen 200 or more people show up.

"People are hungry for actual dialogue beyond the outbursts," Adler said.

The library is at 702 Front Ave.